Mechanical ballot



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A T TOR/VE Y 35m? 9 P. A. WALSH MECBANICAL BALLOT Filed May 20, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet I H mm. M Yv m W EA M 0 V T P m; m w Y B O 4 United StatesPatent 3,488,476 MECHANICAL BALLOT Philip A. Walsh, 7415 E. 20th St.,Tulsa, Okla. 74112 Filed May 20, 1968, Ser. No. 730,518 Int. Cl. G07c13/02 US. Cl. 235-51 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A mechanicalre-usable voting ballot which is adapted to be attached to the selectionboard of an electro-mechanical voting machine. The ballot includes aselection chart of candidates for office, selector buttons for manuallyindicating the candidates selected, a detent arrangement is provided formaintaining the buttons in the selected position and handles on theballot aid in carrying and placing the ballot on the selection board ofthe voting machine to register the vote indicated by the ballot.

The present invention relates to a mechanical means of selection ofcandidates prior to registering the selection into an electro-mechanicalvoting machine. The present invention involves mechanical adaptation ofthe selection into the present machines without the usual long delayrequired in making the selection by individual voters at the votingmachines.

The main object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanical ballot which is suitable for use with an electro-mechanicalvoting machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedmechanical ballot which can be preset with the voters selection and thentransferred immediately into a voting machine.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical ballotwhich is re-useable and can be reset easily for repeated re-use with theelectro-mechanical voting machine.

The combination of a register and a voting ballot is shown in Patent No.2,563,273 to G. D. Rathburn, issued Aug. 7, 1951. However, the votingballot shown in this patent is unlike the voting ballot which I shalldisclose inasmuch as the voting ballot is designed to work only with theparticular voting machine which is disclosed in this patent. Thefeatures are such that they are adaptable only to the particular votingmachine disclosed in the specifications of the patent.

The patent to R. F. Shoup, No. 3,236,445, issued Feb. 22, 1966, includesa voting machine, and represents some of the features shown in Rathburnsvoting ballot, except that the utility of the voting machine disclosedhere is designed to include a preset card system for tabulation of theselection of the candidates for office. Patent No. 3,214,092, issuedOct. 26, 1965 to M. A. Coyle et al., discloses still another type ofvoting machine including a magnifying glass for viewing a ballot cardfor marking and selecting the candidates for public ofiice. A method ofusing the claimed apparatus as shown in Patent No. 3,214,092 is shown inPatent No. 3,286,918 issued Nov. 22,. 1966 to M. A. Coyle. The patent toR. R. Clark, No. 3,158,316, issued Nov. 24, 1964, is confined todisclosing a suitable voting card for write-in votes.

The patent to S. W. Wilcox, No. 3,249,297, issued May 3, 1966, discloseda combination of a re-useable ballot and a console for recording theselection made. Again, this voting machine does not suggest thestructure or modus operandi of my invention, but requires separate anddistinct structure to operate.

The disclosures in the above patents do not show either the features orthe utility of the new and improved mechanical ballot which I shalldisclose.

The present voting machines require the selection of candidates and thevoting of issues presented for public approval to be performed by movingindividual levers into a position of selection for the candidate foroffice, the selection being integral in the voting machine with theregister. This new and improved voting ballot which I shall disclose isseparate and apart from, but works with, the selection board which isfound in the presently available voting machines. The present votingmachines are principled on a system of levers on its face which connectinternally to actuate automatically the levers and gears in the votingmachine to register the vote cast, the principle of actuation being putin motion by the positioning of the selection on the face board bymoving levers to select the candidates. The candidates are selected bymovement of the selectors, or pointers, to point to the name of thecandidate the voter wishes to select. When the candidates are beingselected by the positioning of the selectors, the positions of thelevers and gears in the body of the voting machine which are directlybehind the face of the voting machine will register the selection ofeach candidate in a tabulating counter which is actuated by the leversin the voting machine.

The principle upon which the mechanical ballot operates will beunderstood from the following disclosure:

FIGURE 1 illustrates the vertical mechanical ballot in place on anautomatic voting machine.

FIGURE 2 illustrates a mechanical ballot which is to be used withautomatic voting machine having a horizontal lever system.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view from the side of the mechanical ballotshown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a synchronization lever which isrequired inconjunction with the mechanical ballot when using a rotating levermachine.

Reference is made to FIGURE 1 which shows the mechanical ballot 1 movinginto place on the front face of a register 2, into notches 3, 4, 5 and 6which are attached to the face of the voting machine. Handles 7 areshown as part of the mechanical ballot to provide for easy handling ofthe ballot by the voters and as an aid in guiding the ballot into placeonto the face of the voting machine. The selection slate of candidatesto be voted upon are represented by the office they are seeking with thenames of the candidates being inserted into the selection sheets 9 (FIG-URE 1). Beside each of the candidates names is selector buttons 8 whichare depressed inwardly by the voter making his or her selection. Thisselection is made prior to placing of the mechanical ballot on the faceof the voting machine. The selector button is held in place andprevented from moving by a detent 17 (FIGURE 4) While the selection isbeing transferred to the face of the voting machine.

Another species of a mechanical ballot is illustrated in FIGURE 2. Theballot itself is shown as 1. However, the structure is different fromFIGURE 1 inasmuch as this ballot has holes shown at 11 and 11' in theupper corner. These holes are sized to fit snugly over and to rest upontapered pivot pins 10 and 10' (FIGURE 4). In this particular ballot, thenames of the candidates are placed in the spaces 9 which provide namespaces for the candidates on the ballot. Unlike the ballot which wasexplained in the preceding paragraph, under each candidates name isplaced a selector button 8' which the voter sets by depressing to makehis or her selection. Unlike FIGURE 1, this mechanical ballot isdesigned for a different type of levers on the face of the votingmachine.

Referring to FIGURE 3, the lever system is described as beingconstructed of flat bar material, preferably metal, with pivot pins 13and 13'. Flat bar members 12 and 12 which move together in a clockwisedirection are joined at freely rotating connecting pins and 15' withmember 14. The pivot pins 10 and 10 which extend through and to the rearof the face of the voting machine are attached to the levers 12 and 12'at 10 and 10 (FIGURE 3). The pins 10 and 10' are released to movement ina circular path when the mechanical ballot (see FIGURE 2) with theselectors 17 (FIGURE 4) extended is placed flat against guides 3, 4, '5and 6 on the voting machine, as shown in FIGURE 1. The levers 12 and 14(FIGURE 4) are released when lock-pin 19 (FIGURE 4) acting againstspring 20 moves backward as shown in FIG- URE 4 to release the levers 12and 14 (FIGURE 4) so they can move in a circular direction. Upon releaseof levers 12 and 14 (FIGURE 4), the mechanical ballot itself moves in adownwardly direction B as shown in FIGURE 4, selector buttons 17, whichwere previously set by the voter, move the rotating levers 18 on thevoting machine in a downward circular position. The voting button on thevoting machine, which is part of the voting machine itself, whendepressed, will register and tabulate the votes inside the votingmachine. After the Votes are registered, the mechanical ballot is movedupwardly in circular direction C as shown in FIGURE 4 and removed fromthe voting machine. To prepare the board for re-use, simply lay theballot on a flat surface to restore all the selectors to a raisedposition again for another selection by another voter.

FIGURE 4 illustrates a cross-sectional View of the mechanical ballot 1shown in FIGURE 2. This particular application is adaptable to leversoperating on the face of the voting machine 2 which move in a circularmanner. To accommodate this mechanical ballot, in addition, it isnecessary to incorporate and install the lever system as shown in FIGURE3. Since FIGURE 3 and FIGURE 4 work in full cooperation with each other,they are explained as a unit.

Operation Reference is made to FIGURE 1 showing the mechanical ballot 1.The ballot is procured from the registrant in charge of the votingstation. The voter then proceeds to private quarters where he or shemakes his or her selection on the ballot by depressing the selectorbuttons next to the candidates names the voter wishes to be elected.After completing the selection of the candidates of the voters choice,the mechanical ballot is then placed on the face of the voting machine(FIGURE 1) in the following manner:

The ballot is moved in direction A as illustrated in FIGURE 1; then indirection B to completely set the levers on the face of the Votingmachine with vertical moving levers.

The movement of the mechanical ballot in direction A places thedepressed selectors of the mechanical ballot above the levers on theface of the voting machine. The movement in direction B contacts all ofthe levers and moves them in a vertical direction to a position toregister the voters selection of canidates. When the mechanical ballotis completely in the lower position on the face of the voting machine,the vote button could be pressed to tabulate the votes into the machinecounter. By moving the ballot in a reverse or C direction (FIGURE 1),the mechanical ballot is raised and removed from the face of the votingmachine. The ballot is then placed on a flat surface so that all theselectors are returned to a raised position on the re-useable ballot fora new selection of candidates.

The procedure in using the mechanical ballot as shown in FIGURE 2 issomewhat similar in step procedure as described in the precedingparagraph. This particular type of voting machine requires a mechanicalballot with holes 11 and 11' (FIGURE 2) at the top of the mechanicalballot to engage with the tapered pivot pins as shown in 10 and 10(FIGURE 3) and 10 (FIGURE 4).

When the mechanical ballot is resting on the tapered pivot pins, thelock-pin 19 releases the lever 14 (FIG- URE 4) so that the levers canmove. The mechanical ballot with the selectors, preferably buttons withdetents, moves in a circular direction E (FIGURE 3) in a path parallelto the gyration of the segments formed by the levers in the face of thevoting machine (note FIGURE The movement of the selectors contacting thelevers on the front side of the voting machine move then to register thevoters selection. When the mechanical ballot is in the down position,the voting button in the voting machine could be pressed and theselection tabulated. The mechanical ballot is then moved in acounter-clockwise direction opposite to direction E (FIGURE 3). Themechanical ballot is then removed from the voting machine, and placed ona flat surface to restore all the selectors to a raised position for anew selection of candidates.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a voting machine, a mechanical ballot,comprising:

(a) means to mount the mechanical ballot on the front face of the saidvoting machine;

(b) handle means for carrying the said mechanical ballot and placing thesaid ballot in position on the front face of the said voting machine;

(c) selector means mounted in the face of the said mechanical ballot forselecting the candidates;

((1) the said mechanical ballot having at least one selection slate forcandidates; and

(e) at least one slot means on the said selection slate for insertingthe candidates names.

2. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selectormeans are' arranged in a vertical pattern to work with a verticaloperating lever voting machine.

3. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selectormeans is a button held in a selected position by a detent.

4. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1, where the said mountingmeans for the said mechanical ballot includes:

(a) synchronization lever in combination with a pivot pin, the saidpivot pin supporting the said mechanical ballot in position on the frontpanel of the said voting machine; and

(b) hole mounting means in the said mechanical ballot for mounting thesaid ballot onto at least one said pivot pin.

5. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the selector meansare mounted in a horizontal pattern.

6. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the synchronizationlevers are held from movement by a lock-pin held in a locked position bya spring.

7. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 4 where the said selectormeans is a button held in a selected position by a detent.

8. The mechanical ballot as defined in claim 1 where the said selectormeans is arranged in a horizontal pattern to work with a horizontaloperating lever voting machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 819,306 5/1906 Newcomb 235-51881,821 3/1908 Newcomb 235-51 969,718 9/ 1910 Newcomb et al. 2355 11,487,493 3/ 1924 Tolman 235-50 3,178,107 4/1965 Fagan 23556 3,249,297 51966 Wilcox 235-50 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner STANLEY .A.WAL, Assistant Examiner

